Yosemite During the week of June 20th
- Thread starter Fairlaner
- Start date
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Ya know, the town of Sonora, though not as close to the west entrance to Yosemite - is a great jumping-off ( 
) point
where you can start up the groovy part of 108, and be into some spectacular scenery before your bangers and mash and grilled tomatoes are halfway digested.
AND, there's a good bit less traffic.
And I'd betcha motels are a bit more reasonable.
Just a thought.
.... 'Cause I'm a thinker.
) pointwhere you can start up the groovy part of 108, and be into some spectacular scenery before your bangers and mash and grilled tomatoes are halfway digested.
AND, there's a good bit less traffic.
And I'd betcha motels are a bit more reasonable.
Just a thought.
.... 'Cause I'm a thinker.
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Bro' Mick, fixed it for you!Ya know, the town of Sonora, though not as close to the west entrance to Yosemite - is a great jumping-off (
where you can start up the groovy part of 108, and be into some spectacular scenery before your bangers and mash and grilled tomatoes and Marlboros and Southern Comfort and Cokes are halfway digested.
AND, there's a good bit less traffic.
And I'd betcha motels are a bit more reasonable.
Just a thought.
.... 'Cause I'm a thinker stinker.
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Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
I am thinking the Motel 6 in Sonora looks to be the motel of choice and it is the cheapest........
I will probably book something after the tech day.
R
I will probably book something after the tech day.
R
HIGHLANDER
naewittyshitepostedeere
I always plan the Yosemite group ride by trying to estimate the opening of 120, by watching the daily reports of how far the plows reach every day.
THIS YEARS SNOWPACK IS 183% OF NORMAL !!
It is the highest snowpack since 1980.
When it was 178% it opened on June 30th.
When it was 163% it opened on June 24th.
When it was 156% it opened on July 1st.
You did said you wanted feedback, right......
My money is on it opening right before the July 4th weekend. Since 108 usually opens around the same date make sure your resevations can be cancelled.
THIS YEARS SNOWPACK IS 183% OF NORMAL !!
It is the highest snowpack since 1980.
When it was 178% it opened on June 30th.
When it was 163% it opened on June 24th.
When it was 156% it opened on July 1st.
You did said you wanted feedback, right......
My money is on it opening right before the July 4th weekend. Since 108 usually opens around the same date make sure your resevations can be cancelled.
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madmike2
Shtirrenuppenmeister
Dang....THAT bit of information doesn't bode well for several folk's plans for riding the Sierra passes!I always plan the Yosemite group ride by trying to estimate the opening of 120, by watching the daily reports of how far the plows reach every day.
THIS YEARS SNOWPACK IS 183% OF NORMAL !!
It is the highest snowpack since 1980.
When it was 178% it opened on June 30th.
When it was 163% it opened on June 24th.
When it was 156% it opened on July 1st.
You did said you wanted feedback, right......
My money is on it opening right before the July 4th weekend. Since 108 usually opens around the same date make sure your resevations can be cancelled.
One could still ride into Yosemite but, if intending to ride to Reno, would have to route themselves over Hwy 88 from Jackson. I'm betting that Hwy 4 won't be open, either, since Ebbett's Pass is over 11,000'.
exskibum
~<>~<>~<>~<>~
Mike -- check yer hot chocolate -- it may have fermented. :lol:
Ebbetts (Hwy 4) has two summits, one is Ebbetts and one is Pacific Grade. The posted elevation at Ebbetts summit is 8,730, and the posted elevation at Pacific Grade summit is 8,050. There's 11,000+ peaks all around, but the road isn't that high. As you know, however, it's narrow, windy, has abrupt drop offs and goes through some rugged and remote areas. All of which is to say that you're probably right that Hwy 4 won't be open a whole lot sooner than Tioga and Sonora passes.
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Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
Well i have to be in Carson City on Friday anyway so i am sure i can find some riding to do around Sonora for a few days......
R
R
Khunajawdge
Toto El Mundo!
Well, It's a nice sport bike video, but "if" my camping buddies were riding that road, it "might" seem strange. Seeing as their bikes would be fully loaded and they would also be pulling G's. Maybe I need to get a hold of a video cam?
Not sayin' we'd be quite as phast, but "almost"! :sicksmiley02:
madmike2
Shtirrenuppenmeister
George is right, Hwy 49 between Sonora and Mariposa is waaaaay fun. Hwy 140 from Mariposa to Yosemite isn't bad, either.
There are a multitude of good roads we could list for you. You might also PM CAJW....John is local to the area and could probably detail and rate fun roads.
CAJW
Well-known member
Yeah, what he said. Ping me and we'll chat as depending on when and what type of riding i.e. sweepers or goat trails (ala Titlow road ) I may be able to go, but at the least I can set you up some routing. The Mrs. is scheduled for foot surgery on the 20th so I won't be able to make anything after the 19th. I'd be happy to route you out some alternative stuff as I'm in the camp that the passes will not be open by the 24th, but what do I know. BTW, if you guys don't do all four passes in one day...... well you know.
Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
Thanks Tyler I had looked at that place but 300 a night might scare everyone off.... :clapping:
R
R
Welp, as I recall, it's like a small apartment and you could easily room share with a couple other folks depending on your preference.
Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
Thats good news Sam......
R
R
Yes and Hwy 88 and Carson pass were in great shape too! This has been a hot week - will get up to 89 degrees here in Sacramento on Wednesday and 90 degrees on Thursday, upper 70s all of next week also. Hopefully if the warm weather is also prevalent in the mountains, it will help greatly with the snow melt.
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Fairlaner, I thought that this may be of some interest to you, it was posted on today's BMW MOA Website, posted up by a local Beemer rider who lives in El Portal, CA.
Obviously anyone can look up generic data on the internet. Most of the time riders on this site are trying to find some local contacts and current information.(humint) That Caltrans post is the same as it is every year after Tioga Pass closes for the winter.
TexanRT' date='
The Generals Highway in Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP is open but under construction during the week. You could run into sections that are unpaved and have potential wait times over the entire course of the summer.
There is no official estimate for opening Tioga Pass at this time. However, I put a call into my contacts at Yosemite. As many know, this has been the heaviest snow pack in quite a long time and it's taking its time melting as well. All of that's good for the waterfalls at the park and the California water system but not so much for the high alpine road openings. The Tioga summit recorded something like 700 cumulative inches of snow this year(178% of nominal) and there are seven serious avalanche areas between White Wolf and the summit. Plowing has begun but it going very slowly. The estimate I got, and I kid you not, is to have it open by the July 4th weekend. If you're going to Yosemite you'll also want to take the Glacier Point Road once you're there. The plowing there is also very slow going but should open by mid June. Sometimes these roads are severely damaged under the pack especially if there has been an avalanche. You can check the status of Tioga on the NPS Yosemite site which I would recommend doing if your planning to use it any time before July 1st. Here's a handy hint: If neither of these roads are open when you go to Yosemite, I would absolutely stay out of the park on the weekends. These closures severely limit access to the outer areas of the park so the valley floor becomes a traffic nightmare resulting in very limited parking and the closing of the valley floor to more guests by late morning. No matter when you go over the summer months, it's better to get up and get down to the valley floor fresh in the early morning hours before the crowds wake up or buses start to arrive.
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm[/quote']
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Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
Thanks Don.
R
R
HIGHLANDER
naewittyshitepostedeere
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